Fujitsu CEO Set to Depart Amid Post Office IT Scandal Fallout
In a move that suggests accountability for one of the UK's most devastating corporate scandals, Paul Patterson, the European boss of Japanese IT giant Fujitsu, is to step down from his role in March. As chief executive of Fujitsu's European division, Patterson will become non-executive chair of the company's UK business, where he will oversee its response to ongoing parliamentary inquiries into the Horizon software scandal.
Patterson has been a key figure in the scandal, having represented Fujitsu at the public inquiry and admitting that the company had known about the accounting IT system's faults since the 1990s. He testified before MPs earlier this month, defending Fujitsu's actions and stating that the company was "not a parasite" despite continuing to take UK government contracts while refusing to provide financial redress to Horizon victims.
However, Patterson's comments also drew criticism, with him seemingly downplaying the extent of Fujitsu's responsibility in the scandal. The company has since paid out an estimated ยฃ1.33bn to over 10,000 victims, a fraction of the ยฃ1.8bn that government estimates will be needed in total payouts.
With Patterson's departure, Fujitsu will need to navigate its complex role in the scandal and provide greater clarity on its financial obligations to affected postmasters. As the UK government continues to investigate the Horizon software scandal, which has resulted in more than 13 suicides, it remains to be seen how Fujitsu's leadership will evolve to address these concerns.
The decision to step down comes as part of broader succession planning within the company, according to a spokesperson for Fujitsu. Patterson's departure marks an important step towards accountability and oversight in one of the UK's most contentious corporate scandals.
In a move that suggests accountability for one of the UK's most devastating corporate scandals, Paul Patterson, the European boss of Japanese IT giant Fujitsu, is to step down from his role in March. As chief executive of Fujitsu's European division, Patterson will become non-executive chair of the company's UK business, where he will oversee its response to ongoing parliamentary inquiries into the Horizon software scandal.
Patterson has been a key figure in the scandal, having represented Fujitsu at the public inquiry and admitting that the company had known about the accounting IT system's faults since the 1990s. He testified before MPs earlier this month, defending Fujitsu's actions and stating that the company was "not a parasite" despite continuing to take UK government contracts while refusing to provide financial redress to Horizon victims.
However, Patterson's comments also drew criticism, with him seemingly downplaying the extent of Fujitsu's responsibility in the scandal. The company has since paid out an estimated ยฃ1.33bn to over 10,000 victims, a fraction of the ยฃ1.8bn that government estimates will be needed in total payouts.
With Patterson's departure, Fujitsu will need to navigate its complex role in the scandal and provide greater clarity on its financial obligations to affected postmasters. As the UK government continues to investigate the Horizon software scandal, which has resulted in more than 13 suicides, it remains to be seen how Fujitsu's leadership will evolve to address these concerns.
The decision to step down comes as part of broader succession planning within the company, according to a spokesperson for Fujitsu. Patterson's departure marks an important step towards accountability and oversight in one of the UK's most contentious corporate scandals.